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Spring: Year of the Shaken Earth

When he next woke it was evening. The window had been shut at some point during the day. Outside he could hear music and laughter and what sounded like paws tromping on a wooden floor. Slipping out of the bed, he made his way to the window, wrapping the comforter around his naked body. Pulling back the curtains, he peeked out and looked at the scene outside.

The sun was still setting, hanging off the horizon as a giant sphere of orange light. The cottage he was in stood near the centre of the little village, facing the lake that supplied the people with fish and fresh water. A gathering of villagers was upon the dock dancing to the lilting sound of pipes and drums. Eevee types of every kind were present, from flaming Flareon to sleek Vaporeon, all the members of the eevee evolution chain were represented here in this gathering; dancing and living as a community.

Turning from the window, he froze as he felt a presence near the door. The everstone accessories Jarven had put on him might have dampened his power, held it back, but he could still sense things.

"Calm Ephraim, it is just me." His new espeon protector stepped out of the shadows, the golden circles in his fur glittering as they caught the last rays of sunlight. "Would you like to come outside and meet the village? There is food and company, and they are all terribly curious about you."

Glancing back at the crowd, Ephraim felt his ears twitch back as he shook his head. "I... I am not sure how I will do in such a large crowd. I've never been around lots of people before."

Moving closer, Jarven put an arm about the rake-thin Eevee's shoulders and guided him toward the door. "Then it is about time to start. We'll go slowly and you can come back inside if you feel overwhelmed." He pointed toward a door off to the side. "Go wash up; I left you some clothes as well. Then join me in the garden."

Taking his time to wash up, Ephraim looked over the clothing he'd been left as he towelled his white hair dry. Jarven had left him trousers and a sleeveless vest in a light bronze colour with white piping. Pulling the clothes on he stumbled a bit as the trousers swayed and tangled with his foot paws. He was not used to walking on the ground. The Mew had floated above the ground, not walked. Steadying himself, he looked into the mirror; it was so strange, seeing brown fur and white hair, but he would adapt. He would stay safe, he would learn, and he'd find some means to help look after the village that offered him sanctuary.

Slipping out of the front door he approached Jarven, who was in conversation with two figures on the other side of the gate. It was the Jolteon and Leafeon who had rescued him from the woodlands. Glancing back, Jarven smiled softly and raised a hand in greeting, gathering Ephraim up in one arm and guiding him to his side.

"Ephraim, this is Karnet and Rachael. They wished to see how you were doing. They are the members of the border guard who found you."

Smiling shyly, Ephraim raised a paw. "I... thank you, thank you both, for helping me."

Leaning forward to ruffle Ephraim's thick mane of hair, Karnet laughed. "You are welcome youngster; just glad you are ok."

"Indeed," Rachael said, smiling down at him. "We are most glad you are safe, the forest welcomes you to our little village. I see Jarven has decided to take you in?"

Looking a little bit puzzled, Ephraim nodded. "Yes... how did you..." He cut off as he looked up at Jarven, who was giving him a mischievous smile.

"The everstone, silly," Rachael said, her voice kind even though she chuckled somewhat. She hugged the eevee. "Jarven wouldn't have given you his own everstone if he was not welcoming you into his family." Glancing slyly at the leader of her village she smirked. "He also took many years to pick what to grow into."

Blushing deeply and looking up at Jarven nervously, the smaller pokémon shuffled his feet. "Ah...I didn't know... th... thank you Jarven." The purple furred espeon just squeezed his shoulder warmly. "It is ok Ephraim. Now come, why don't we go join the dance? Our fisher beasts are giving thanks to the waters for the fish; today's catch was the largest all season." He glanced at Rachael teasingly, "An auspicious sign no?"

Karnet shook his head and opened the gate, guiding Ephraim onto the path. "They're about to go all mystic on us kid. Let's go join the line for the food before everyone eats it."

"I... I like mysticism." Ephraim objected, ears twitching as he listened in on Jarven and Rachael discussing the signs implied by the bumper crop. A sign that something good was sheltering the village. Karnet just ruffled his ears and hair though and tugged him along, so Ephraim found himself having to run to keep up.

"None of that, not tonight kid, you need to relax 'n enjoy yourself before you get all freaky mystic with Jarven." Shaking his head as he tried to keep up, Ephraim found himself smiling as he followed Karnet onto the dock. He yelped in surprise as the powerful Jolteon spun him forward and into a group of dancing youngsters, causing them to crash in a pile.

Laughing softly Ephraim sat back up, helped by a couple of the others. There were a couple of eevee wearing everstone headbands, but the majority of the people his age had already picked their evolution.

"Sorry about that. Karnet... was rescuing me from a mysticism attack." Ephraim blushed, large ears flicking back as he glanced at the others.

They just laughed in a warm-hearted nature, and a young Jolteon linked arms with Ephraim and tugged him toward the BBQ. "Ah it's ok; we're used to dad doing weird stuff like that! Come on, you must be starving and we wanna hear all about ya! Is it true they found you unconscious after defeating a horde of ghosts?"

"Ghosts, no," he shook his head, blushing beneath his fur, "No ghosts, just... I can't really remember what happened; something in the mountains attacked us..."

Tucking an arm through Ephraim's, a beautifully furred Flareon smiled up at him winningly. "Well you are safe now! Our border guard would never let brigands into the village! I'm Elsie and this is Moe," she nodded at the Jolteon, "and our Vaporeon friend is Laven."

Said Vaporeon waved his forked tail in greeting as he moved to join the party of three, as they headed toward the BBQ. "Hey there Ephraim, welcome to the village. The twins," he waved a paw at the eevee's wearing headbands, "are Sash and Sole. It's great to have someone else to talk with! Do you like swimming any?"

"Er, I've not really been swimming before," Ephraim mumbled, blushing at the inviting and provocative way Laven was leaning in close to him.

"Well maybe I can teach you sometime, fluffy friend. I'm a very... diligent instructor."

Stammering and not really sure how to answer, he was rescued as the twins swooped in and snagged him away to the front of the line. "Behave you three, no trying to influence him!" Chuckling at the pouts from the other three, the twins let go of Ephraim's arms and joined the line waiting for food. With fire-light crackling over their fur and the moon riding low in the sky it was a rather mystical and beautiful scene. So many people just relaxing, enjoying themselves without a care in the world. So new and different to how Ephraim had lived his life in the past... Someone talking jolted him out of his idle daydreaming and he turned to look at Sole.

"Sorry... I was watching the fire and not listening... sorry..."

Chuckling gently, the young eevee prodded Ephraim into moving with the line. "Ah it is ok, Laven means well! He just thinks anyone who's still an eevee at our age needs his personal attention to pick Vaporeon."

"Not picking is just as important as when you do pick." Sash added; warmth in her voice as she grinned at the other three as they joined the line. "So is it really true Jarven has taken you in?"

Nodding his head Ephraim accepted a plate of grilled fish, mashed potatoes and veg. He joined the others on the edge of the dock, staring out over the lake water. "Yes... he has offered me his home; it is so very kind of him." He sniffed the food, paws trembling a bit. "It has all been a bit... I mean... mother... and..." Trembling, he dropped the skewered fish, watching as it fell toward the lake, landing with a plop and a ripple of water.

Warmth spread through his body suddenly, causing him to gasp, as soft yellow flames seemed to flicker about his body. "Shhh it is ok, we are here! We look after each other in this village, it is one of the rules!" Elsie proclaimed, drawing back her hand. "You have us now, and Jarven and everyone, we're all here for you."

Sniffing as he wiped his eyes with one fuzzy hand, he smiled at the others. "Tha... thank you... sorry about the fish..."

Moe laughed and shook his head, "Ah dun worry about it Eppy, though dun drop too many of them or the vaps will insist you learn to swim to help replace them."

Chortling softly, Laven draped his hands on Moe's shoulders. "Yeah and as Moe will tell you, when it's time to learn how to swim, we get real serious! The regime is tough!"

The grimace on the Jolteon's muzzle was so comical, Ephraim could help but chuckle. For a time, he forgot the horrors of the past day, just eating and talking, getting to know these youngsters who had called this village their home all their lives. They wanted to hear about the world outside, and Ephraim was happy to share the tails of the places he had been to with his mother.

With the flickering light of the fire playing with the cool serenity of the moonlight, Jarven was able to observe his new ward from a quiet distance away. Watching the disguised mew, he couldn't help smile as he bonded with the other youngsters his own age. It was good to see him opening up to them; he'd slipped into the social circle with ease. Even without his latent powers he still exuded a feeling that made others wish to be near them and get to know him.

Turning to leave them be he walked silently back to the campfire, acknowledging the greetings he received. He offered an affirmative nod to Rachael; she knew, the forest knew so she knew, but she had agreed with his interpretation on what they had to do. Clearly Ephraim's mother had sent him in this direction before she died, which meant she knew they were here and he would help the boy. He might be nearly an adult but in some ways he was still a child. A child who could be raised to help protect this village from those who would enslave or eat its inhabitants, a child who would be well cared for and protected until he was old enough and powerful enough to stand on his own.